STEVE Hill hailed the London Wasps team that demolished Oxford University as the best to visit Iffley Road in ten years.

The Dark Blues director of rugby was quick to praise his players despite Monday's 54-0 loss, and few could fail to be impressed by Wasps' sheer class.

Wasps had beaten Castres 19-13 in the Heineken Cup the previous day, but still fielded Joe Worsley, Jonny O'Connor and Dave Walder, plus a host of established Premiership players.

Hill said: "That is the strongest team that a club side has brought to Oxford in the ten years since I have been here.

"Even the Australian side that played us in 2001 probably weren't that much stronger.

"They had so much pace and power outside that they can always cut through.

"It's not difficult for our guys to get up for it against players like that.

"Their managment told me they have not put out a team as strong as that in the A League."

Hill singled out prop Ollie Tomaszczyk for his excellent workrate against Wasps and said No 8 James Jones had also impressed.

"After that performance, I know James will get a call from Wasps asking 'what are you doing next year?" said Hill.

"He was tremendous."

Hill added: "That was our best performance in the scrum and lineout this season. I thought Dan Rosen's throwing was outstanding.

"We won all our own scrums and only lost two of 15 lineouts. Our heads never went down.

"For 18 minutes in the second half we stuck in their half and put them under pressure, which was excellent."

"We were missing our captain, but I think Chris Haw did quite well under pressure at scrum half.

"I was really pleased for James Squires, who didn't have the best of times against London Welsh.

"He made some really important tackles.

"The least important thing over the next three weeks is the score. We know the side we face at Twickenham will not be as good as these.

"Now the real challenge is can we maintain that level against Bristol next week."